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Controlling Neuronal Growth on Au Surfaces by Directed Assembly of Proteins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Cristian Staii ,
Chris Viesselman ,
Jason Ballweg ,
Steven Hart ,
Justin C Williams ,
Erik W Dent ,
Susan N Coppersmith  and
Mark Eriksson
Cristian Staii
Affiliation:
Cristian.Staii@tufts.eduCristian.Staii@gmail.com, Tufts University, Physics and Astronomy, Medford, Massachusetts, United States
Chris Viesselman
Affiliation:
cviesselmann@wisc.edu, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Anatomy, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Jason Ballweg
Affiliation:
ballweg2@wisc.edu, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Anatomy, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Steven Hart
Affiliation:
srhart2@wisc.edu, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Physics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Justin C Williams
Affiliation:
jwilliam@cae.wisc.edu, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Biomedical Engineering, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Erik W Dent
Affiliation:
ewdent@wisc.edu, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Anatomy, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Susan N Coppersmith
Affiliation:
snc@physics.wisc.edu, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Physics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Mark Eriksson
Affiliation:
maeriksson@wisc.edu, United States
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Abstract

Studying how individual neuronal cells grow and interact with each other is of fundamental importance for understanding the functions of the nervous system. However, the mechanism of axonal navigation to their target region and their specific interactions with guidance factors such as membrane-bound proteins, chemical and temperature gradients, mechanical guidance cues, etc. are not well understood. Here we describe a new approach for controlling the adhesion, growth and interconnectivity of cortical neurons on Au surfaces. Specifically, we use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanolithography to immobilize growth-factor proteins at well-defined locations on Au surfaces. These surface-immobilized proteins act as a) adhesion proteins for neuronal cells (i.e. well-defined locations where the cells “stick” to the surface), and b) promoters/inhibitors for the growth of neurites. Our results show that protein patterns can be used to confine neuronal cells and to control their growth and interconnectivity on Au surfaces. We also show that AFM nanolithography presents unique advantages for this type of work, such as high degree of control over location and shape of the protein patterns, and application of proteins in aqueous solutions (protein buffers), such that the proteins are very likely to retain their folding conformation/bioactivity.

Keywords

scanning probe microscopy (SPM)biomedicalbiomaterial
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1236: Symposium SS – Biosurfaces and Biointerfaces , 2009 , 1236-SS01-05
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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